Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UNC Wilmington Athletics

Scoreboard

Events/Results

hofstra_preview_011923

Men's Basketball Joe Browning

Seahawks Go Island Hopping For Two Games

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW men's basketball team makes its annual trip to the Northeast corridor this week. This time with a twist.
 
The Seahawks, 15-5 overall and 5-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association, take on Hofstra on Thursday (Jan. 19) in their only regular season pairing with the Pride before making the 36-mile jaunt up to Stony Brook for their first matchup against the Seawolves at Island Federal Credit Union Arena.
 
UNCW usually plays Hofstra and Northeastern on its northern swing. With the addition of new members Stony Brook, Monmouth, N.C. A&T and Hampton, the conference schedule has been adjusted accordingly. As a result, the Seahawks will only meet designated teams once during the regular season.
 
Coach Takayo Siddle's club battles the Pride in a 7 p.m. start at the Mack Complex. The contest will be television nationally on the CBS Sports Network, with John Fanta and Terrence Oglesby on the call.
 
The game between the two CAA rivals may also be heard on 95.9 FM The Breeze, with play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro providing the action, beginning at 6:45 p.m.
 
UNCW is coming off a much-needed 62-54 decision over Elon on MLK Day at Trask Coliseum. The Seahawks led by only three points at the break, 30-27, but used a timely rally midway through the half to build enough separation to overcome the upset-minded Phoenix.
 
Senior forward Amari Kelly and junior forward Eric Van Der Heijden had big nights for the Seahawks, who have only 11 games remaining in the regular season. Kelly recorded his first career double-double behind 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Van Der Heijden drained three trifectas – each in critical moments – to give the Seahawks enough momentum to improve to 7-2 at home this season.
 
Following Thursday's contest, the Seahawks move up to Stony Brook for a 1 p.m. date on Saturday with the Seawolves.
 
No. 22 Charleston sits atop the CAA standings with an unblemished 7-0 league record. UNCW and Hofstra are both two games back at 5-2. Drexel and Towson are tied for third place at 4-2.
 
UNCW and Hofstra lock horns for the 49th time since Hofstra joined the CAA during the 2001-02 season. The Pride owns a 25-23 advantage in the series. The Seahawks and Pride have played several tight games, going into overtime on four occasions. Six of the last seven games have been decided by nine points or less.
 
Hofstra returns to the Mack Complex after having its four-game winning streak halted in a 68-47 loss at Towson on Monday. The Pride bolted out to an 11-1 lead, but the Tigers reeled off 17 straight points to grab control. CAA Preseason Player of the Year Aaron Estrada collected 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in the road loss at SECU Arena.
 
The Pride stands 5-1 at the Mack Sports Complex this season, with the lone defeat coming to N.C. A&T, 81-79, on Dec. 31, 2022. The Seahawks are 5-3 in true road games and have won five straight. UNCW, 8-12 against Hofstra on Long Island, has dropped four in a row at The Mack. The Seahawks' last win in the arena came on Feb. 18, 2017, following an 83-76 verdict over the Pride.
 
The Seahawks face the high scoring Estrada for the third time late Thursday.  The crafty point producer has averaged 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds against the six-time CAA champions.
 
Kelly will have a big cheering section in Hempstead. He hails from nearby Roosevelt, L.I., and moved to Georgia when he was six-years-old. His double-double against the Phoenix on Monday was the fourth double-double of the season for the Seahawks.
 
OPENING TIPS: The Seahawks are ranked 14th in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25 poll…The Seahawks are 5-3 in true road games this season, losing their first three away contests and winning five in a row…The two clubs have always played twice each season since the Pride joined the CAA in 2001-02…Hofstra has won 37 consecutive games when opponents have failed to score 60 points…Hofstra ranks first in the CAA in field goal percentage (.469) and free throw percentage (.746)…The Seahawks top the loop in three-point field goal defense (.304)…Hofstra is averaging 2,244 fans per game.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Amari Kelly

#23 Amari Kelly

F
6' 9"
Senior
Eric Van Der Heijden

#1 Eric Van Der Heijden

F
6' 9"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Amari Kelly

#23 Amari Kelly

6' 9"
Senior
F
Eric Van Der Heijden

#1 Eric Van Der Heijden

6' 9"
Sophomore
F